The Broncos have won the AFC West the last three years, one short of the Chargers from 2006-09. Their No. 1 enemy other than the Seahawks defense? It's age. Peyton Manning is 38. Wes Welker is 33 and was concussed twice last year.

Still, Manning is coming off a brilliant season. The defense looks improved and the slick offense, which broke the NFL's season scoring record last year, has regained a top-5 left tackle in Ryan Clady and welcomed a quick receiver in Emmanuel Sanders, the ex-Steeler. Then last Friday, John Elway traded up to draft receiver Cody Latimer in the second round. He's nearly identical in size to Decker. Smart guy, he patterns his game after Keenan Allen.

The Chargers have made investments as well. Have they and age erosion closed the gap with Denver? We'll see.

But you can be sure that Tom Telesco's top draft pick caught Denver's attention.

Jason Verrett's quickness and agility give him a fair chance to mirror either Welker or Sanders.

And that's just the starting point in the chess match.

Verrett filled a variety of coverages for TCU. Impressively, he pressed explosive receivers such as LSU's Odell Beckham Jr., whom the Giants drafted 12th overall Saturday. TCU's slot-blitz game benefited, because the sight of Verrett snugging up to an inside wide receiver didn't tip off the blitz.

He is a sudden blitzer, an observation supported by his 1.5-second clocking in the 10-yard dash. In comparison, Chargers safety and former slot corner Marcus Gilchrist ran a 1.55. Strong safety Jahleel Addae ran a 1.63.

Gilchrist and Addae have the speed to rotate to the slot and cover for a blitzing Verrett.

Here's another ingredient: the Chargers have a wealth of scouting dope on Manning.

San Diego employs two former Broncos assistant coaches in Mike McCoy and Ron Milus, and former Colts colleagues in Dwight Freeney, Telesco and John Pagano.

Yes, Manning is 4-1 against the Chargers since he joined the AFC West. But in most of those games, the Chargers defended Denver better than most teams do and received strong performances from slot corners such as Gilchrist, who excelled at Denver in 2012 and in Game 14 last year, and Johnny Patrick, who actually outplayed Welker in Denver's victory here last season.

Remember Quentin Jammer's pick-6 off Manning's panicky lob to the sideline? It came off a slot blitz by Eric Weddle.

Growing pains are typical for rookies. The season is longer, the hits harder. In just the second preseason game last year, Chargers rookie corner Steve Williams, who is Verrett's size, suffered a season-ending injury. It's of some concern that Verrett may not be ready to practice until training camp because of the torn labrum that was repaired in March. He is by no means assured a starting job when he's recovered, or of lining up against Welker, a five-time Pro Bowler. No one's overlooking Williams, who is quick and can jump out of the stadium.

You don't have to squint, though, to see how this could work out when the two AFC West rivals meet.